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Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega fought back to earn an 18-12 win over Patumahoe Troydon Patumahoe Hotel to secure a second comeback win in as many weeks since the McNamara Cup returned to post Covid-19 action.

Patumahoe came out of the sheds in red hot form in front of a brave group of spectators in the cold and rain at Patumahoe Domain and shot out to an early 12-0 lead.

The home side dominated the first half but blew opportunities to hammer home that advantage – something that would come back to haunt Siua Pole’s side in the second spell.

Pukekohe took the chance to grab points through the big left boot of Jarrod Halliday to stay in touch and began to gain in confidence as their defensive effort thwarted anything Patumahoe could muster.

Halliday scored with 15 minutes to play to put the visitors in front and they managed to hold off a late charge by Patumahoe.

“I just said to the guys we did the same thing as last week,” Pukekohe coach Sean Polwart said. “We turned over six loose carries and we just couldn’t get into the game. Patty scored a couple of early tries and I just said to the guys to stick to our guns and be disciplined.

“We have some character in this group and that showed out in the second half.

“I am stoked – it has been a while since we came here and got a win.”

Manurewa Kidd Contracting earned their third successive win to move to the top of the standings as they beat Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors 20-19 at Bruce Pulman Park.

It was the home side that charged out of the sheds to take a healthy lead early in the game before Manurewa fought their way back in the second half.

“If you look at the score it was a game of two halves. First half, credit to Ardmore. They are a quality side and just really starved us of possession and kept us pinned in our own territory and accumulated points.

“We regrouped at halftime. We never felt we were out of the game but we just needed a few things to go our way.

“When the momentum came – probably around the 55^th-60^th minute and it really stayed.

“The boys did well to score that many points that quickly.”

Defending champions Bombay picked up their first win of the season but had to work hard to edge Karaka 19-15 at Karaka Sports Complex.

Having been upset back in March by a fired up Waiuku side, Bombay had a second round bye and got their re-start underway a week later than everyone else.

“We were rapt actually,” coach Paul Wheeler said. “A bunch of our boys have only played 40 minutes of rugby over the last 3-4 months so we weren’t expecting a polished performance.

“We delivered a gutsy, tough performance. Conditions were tricky; we spent the first half with the benefit of the wind but didn’t really make the most of our opportunities to be fair.

“Karaka scored from a charge down right before halftime but we are definitely happy to get a win at a tough place that’s for sure.”

Waiuku Brian James Contracting got back into the winner’s circle but were forced to work hard to beat Papakura 19-15 at Massey Park in Papakura.

Conditions made for a scrappy affair and Waiuku weren’t at their best but were able to do enough to collect a valuable win.

“We are happy with the win but not overly happy with the way we went about it,” co-coach Buck Manning said.

“I’m sure a lot of the games were a game of two halves with that wind. We had the wind in the first half and did it pretty well – we kicked well and set up down in the corners in the first half.

“That was the plan but it wasn’t the case in the second half, where we really struggled into the wind.”

The old cliché of a game of two halves has been very pertinent in regards to results since the resumption of the competition. Most games have featured dominant performances for a period of time before the opposition fights back and there is a belief that it is due to teams trying to find their feet after the elongated break.

“I’m hearing that too,” Manning said. “Our goals this week is to string that two halves together – starting off well is one thing but you have got to back it up and not go to sleep.”

Patumahoe Dave Redshaw Electrical produced an impressive second half to blow out Pukekohe PGG Distributors 30-13 in Bob Chandler Memorial Premier 2 play.

Bombay beat Karaka 7-3 in a close battle while Ardmore Marist eased past Manurewa Wise Property Management 41-19.

In Sid Marshall Shield Premier 3 action Te Kauwhata celebrated veteran Mario Vodanovich’s 200^th game for the club to beat rivals Maramarua 38-16 in the Counties Power Game of the Week. Cam Dawson was named the AS Wilcox and Sons Player of the Day for being a menace around the field.

Puni got their first win of the season when they beat Patumahoe Village Bar and Kitchen 20-5 while Drury collected a 19-10 win over Tuakau.

Manurewa earned a narrow 22-21 win over Papakura in Massey Cup U21 play while Patumahoe Albycon Ltd thrashed Bombay 55-8 and Karaka had no problem beating Waiuku 39-12.

Onewhero Bottle’O Tuakau claimed an 18-0 win over Te Kauwhata in the U85kg grade. Patumahoe Pak N Save Pukekohe beat Bombay 33-3, Pukekohe beat Karaka 24-17 and Papakura claimed victory over Beachlands Maraetai 31-8.

Manurewa thumped Marist 56-15 in women’s action while Ardmore Marist claimed a 19-18 win over College Rifles. Patumahoe Searle Group took an impressive 20-17 win over Papatoetoe but Papakura and Puni both lost their games.

McNamara Cup (Premier 1)

Karaka 15

(Jamie Gilbert-Clark, Deniro Refiti tries; Kalione Hala  cons; Kalione Hala pens)

Bombay 19

(Tuise Toai-Key tries; Ki Anufe  cons; Ki Anufe 4 pens)

HT: 5-9

Papakura 15

(Tulaga Fasavalu, Kristopher Smithson tries; Faalae Peni cons; Faalae Peni pens)

Waiuku Brian James Contracting 19

(Fui Asomua, Issac Fanueli, Vuga Tagicakbau tries; Daniel Kitson 2 cons)

HT: 3-19

Patumahoe Troydon Patumahoe Hotel 12

(Matthew Malins, Lesa Sapau tries; Jonny Wilkinson cons)

Pukekohe Mitre 10 Mega Pukekohe 18

(Jarrod Halliday tries; Jarrod Halliday cons; Jarrod Halliday 2 pens)

HT: 12-3

Ardmore Marist South Auckland Motors 19

(Joel Taumateine tries; Luteru Laulala cons; Latiume Fosita, Luteru Laulala 3 pens)

Manurewa Kidd Contracting 20

(George Crichton, Sharmmah Tiumalu tries; Timothy Taefu 2 cons; Timothy Taefu 2 pens)

HT: 13-0

BYE Onewhero Summit Homes

Bob Chandler Memorial (Premier 2)

Karaka 3 Bombay 7; Patumahoe Dave Redshaw Electrical 30 Pukekohe PGG Distributors 13; Ardmore Marist 41 Manurewa Wise Property Management 19

Sid Marshall Shield (Premier 3)

Te Kauwhata 38 Maramarua 16 (Counties Power Game of the Week); Puni 20 Patumahoe Village Bar & Kitchen 5; Drury 19 Tuakau 10

Massey Cup (U21)

Waiuku 12 Karaka 39; Papakura 21 Manurewa 22; Patumahoe Albycon Ltd 55 Bombay 8

Under 85kg

Te Kauwhata 0 Onewhero Bottle’O Tuakau 18; Bombay 3 Patumahoe Pak N Save Pukekohe 33; Beachlands Maraetai 8 Papakura 31; Karaka 17 Pukekohe 24

Women’s

Marist 15 Manurewa 56; College Rifles 18 Ardmore Marist 19; Puni Lost Grammar WON; Waitakere 34 Papakura 22; Papatoetoe 17 Patumahoe Searle Group 20

1^st XV

Alfriston College 14 Edgewater College 12; Pukekohe High School 19 Tamaki College 15; Manurewa High School 21 Takapuna Grammar 7; Rosehill College BYE